Alison Young’s journey to becoming a spiritual coach has been a labyrinth that began in early childhood.
Growing up amongst great religious, racial, cultural, and economic diversity, Alison knew early on that her life’s work would involve working with people from all backgrounds. Ever since those early years, she has been studying and embodying the paradoxical truths inherent to such a calling: knowing thyself & knowing others; intimacy with and acceptance of what is while also having a clear vision of what can be; implementing pragmatic techniques as well as the soft skills required to bring about change; studying theology and spirituality while also embodying it; and knowing and playing by the “rules” & knowing when and how to masterfully color outside of the lines in the name of maturation and transformation.
In her professional tenure, Alison Young has developed, applied, and shared this breadth of perspective and knowledge as the Director of Development at an exponentially growing nonprofit, a Preacher/Pastor for rural, LGBTQ+, and inner city congregations, a Director of Adult Christian Education for an 8,000+ member inner-city church, a Graduate Research Assistant for socio-political and educational research initiatives, and a Chaplain in the ICU and ER units of a Children’s hospital.
A lifelong learner, Alison Young was part of the Advancing Pastoral Leadership Cohort for promising young clergy in the United Methodist Church, has studied the Enneagram extensively with Suzanne Stabile, is a graduate of the Nine Gates Mystery School, and has been a yoga practitioner for over a decade.
The parts of life that were beyond Alison’s control are equally as important to her formation as a Spiritual Coach. She has grieved an unborn baby, sat in the ICU wondering if her husband would ever be the same, rebuilt her family’s life after tragedy, struggled with her own mental health and autoimmune challenges, and agonized over having to place her daughter out-of-state for acute mental health complications.
Alison Young was ordained as an Elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church in 2012, graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University with a Masters in Divinity in 2010, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science.
She, her husband, their three daughters (ages 17, 15, and 12), and their dog, Sugar, currently reside in Houston, TX.